CALL TO CUT BUS AGENCIES BY ADC
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MUNICIPAL bus operators in Lancashire have been advised by the Association of District Council's (ADC), that entering into agency operating agreements with Ribble could be against their long term interests.
The ADC is particularly worried that, as the agency agreements are largely financed from Transport Supplementary Grant, if this is discontinued the whole agency cost may fall on the district councils.
This seems to have thrown a spanner into the spread of such agreements, as Blackburn District Council and Hyndburn District Council which were expected to sign agreements with Ribble last month, but have not yet done so.
Under the agreements — already implemented by Burnley and Pendle — fares on Ribble services within the district council areas would be reduced to those of the district council operator, and the cash paid to Ribble will come jointly from Lancashire County Council and the District Council itself.
Other points made by the ADC in a letter sent to the chief executives and transport managers of all Lancashire district councils are: 1. The maintenance of a fixed percentage of the total mileage by Ribble could lead to a gradual take-over of urban routes if rural routes are withdrawn; 2. Bringing down the level of fares in the peripheral areas served mainly by Ribble could lead, when rationalisation of fares takes place, to higher fares in the inner urban areas where district council undertakings mainly operate; 3. Although the agreement is for a short term th the first instance, it could prove very difficult to restore a semblance of the status quo later, if required.